The blocking effect of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor in the mouse model of asthma

Blood Transfusion Components Inducing Severe Allergic Reactions: The First Case of Kounis Syndrome Induced by Platelet Transfusion

Kounis syndrome is a multisystem and multidisciplinary disease affecting the circulatory system that can be manifested as spasm and thrombosis. It can occur as allergic, hypersensitivity, anaphylactic, or anaphylactoid reactions associated with the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells and from other interrelated and interacting inflammatory cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes. A platelet subset with high- and low-affinity IgE surface receptors is also involved in this process. Whereas the heart, and particularly the coronary arteries, constitute the primary targets of inflammatory mediators, the mesenteric, cerebral, and peripheral arteries are also vulnerable. Kounis syndrome is caused by a variety of factors, including drugs, foods, environmental exposure, clinical conditions, stent implantation, and vaccines. We report a unique case of a 60-year-old male with a past medical history of allergy to human albumin, alcoholic cirrhosis, and esophageal varices, who was admitted due to multiple episodes of hematemesis. Due to low hemoglobin levels, he was transfused with 3 units of red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma without any adverse reactions. On the third day of hospitalization, severe thrombocytopenia was observed and transfusion of platelets was initiated. Immediately following platelet infusion, the patient developed chest discomfort, skin signs of severe allergic reaction, and hemodynamic instability. The electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in the inferior leads. Given the strong suspicion of Kounis syndrome/allergic coronary spasm, the patient was treated with anti-allergic treatment only, without any anti-platelet therapy. The clinical status of the patient gradually improved and the electrocardiographic changes reverted to normal. Based on these findings, Kounis hypersensitivity-associated acute coronary syndrome, specifically, type I Kounis syndrome, was diagnosed. Although platelet transfusion can be a life-saving therapy, each blood transfusion carries a substantial risk of adverse reactions. The aims of this report are to expand the existing knowledge of patient responses to blood transfusion and provide information on the incidence of various severe transfusion reactions to all blood components and especially to platelets. To the best of our knowledge, Kounis syndrome induced by platelet transfusionhas never been previously reported. Hypersensitivity to platelet external membrane glycoproteins in an atopic patient seems to be the possible etiology. Despite that Kounis syndrome remains an under-diagnosed clinical entity in everyday practice, it should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes.

The 4G/5G polymorphism of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 is a predictor of allergic cough

Background: It has been suggested that genetic factors may be substantially linked to allergy disorders. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the genetic susceptibility of Chinese patients with allergy disorders and the polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 gene (PAI-1) rs1799762, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 gene (CYSLTR1) rs320995, gasdermin B gene (GSDMB) rs7216389, glycoprotein IIIa gene (GPIIIa) rs5918, glycoprotein Ib alpha gene (GP1BA) rs6065, platelet endothelial aggregation receptor 1 gene (PEAR1) rs12041331, and tumor necrosis factor alpha gene (TNF-α) rs1800629. Methods: From the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, this study enrolled 60 healthy participants and 286 participants with allergic diseases. TaqMan-minor groove binder (MGB) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to examine the gene polymorphisms in each group. Results: The TaqMan-MGB qPCR results were completely consistent with the DNA sequencing results, according to other studies in this medical center (Kappa = 1, p < .001). Only the distribution of PAI-1 rs1799762 was different between patients with allergic cough and healthy people (χ2 = 7.48, p = .0238). With regard to cough patients, the 4G4G and 5G5G genotypes were more frequent (allergic cough vs. healthy individuals: 4G4G 57.9% vs. 26.7%; 5G5G 20.0% vs. 13.3%), but the 4G5G genotype was more frequent in healthy people (allergic cough vs. healthy individuals: 45.7% vs. 60.0%). The CYSLTR1 rs320995, GSDMB rs7216389, GPIIIa rs5918, GP1BA rs6065, PEAR1 rs12041331, and TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphisms, however, did not show any of such relationships. Conclusion: The PAI-1 rs1799762 polymorphisms may be associated with the genetic susceptibility of Chinese allergic disease patients with cough performance.

Emerging Roles of Platelets in Allergic Asthma

Allergic asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, driven by Th2 immune responses and characterized by eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, excessive mucus production, and airway remodeling. Overwhelming evidence from studies in animal models and allergic asthmatic patients suggests that platelets are aberrantly activated and recruited to the lungs. It has been established that platelets can interact with other immune cells and secrete various biochemical mediators to promote allergic sensitization and airway inflammatory response, and platelet deficiency may alleviate the pathological features and symptoms of allergic asthma. However, the comprehensive roles of platelets in allergic asthma have not been fully clarified, leaving attempts to treat allergic asthma with antiplatelet agents questionable. In this review, we summarize the role of platelet activation and pulmonary accumulation in allergic asthma; emphasis is placed on the different interactions between platelets with crucial immune cell types and the contribution of platelet-derived mediators in this context. Furthermore, clinical antiplatelet approaches to treat allergic asthma are discussed. This review provides a clearer understanding of the roles of platelets in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma and could be informative in the development of novel strategies for the treatment of allergic asthma.